Combating Transnational Threats Senior Executive Seminar “Technological Innovation & Security Challenges in the NESA Region”

From 22–26 January 2024, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a Combating Transnational Threats Senior Executive Seminar (CTSES) titled “Technological Innovation & Security Challenges in the NESA Region,” held at National Defense University in Washington, D.C.   The five-day CTSES engaged 33 participants from 24 countries, including Armenia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Djibouti, Read More >

July–October 2023 NESA Center Update Report

View the NESA Center July–October 2023 Update focused on trends in the Levant region. The update also highlights July through October NESA Center programs and events, faculty and staff engagements, alumni contributions, and a calendar with upcoming events. Regional Trends – The Levant The 7 October 2023 terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas against Israel challenged prevailing Read More >

May–June 2023 NESA Center Update Report

View the NESA Center May – June 2023 Update focused on the Gulf region trends. The update also highlights May through June NESA Center programs and events, faculty and staff engagements, alumni contributions, and a calendar with upcoming events. Regional Trends – The Gulf All Gulf countries are making substantial progress in gender equality and women Read More >

Combating Transnational Threats Senior Executive Seminar “Emerging Security Platforms in the Digital Age”

From 11–15 September 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a Combating Transnational Threats Senior Executive Seminar (CTSES) titled “Emerging Security Platforms in the Digital Age,” held in Washington, D.C.   The CTSES five-day seminar engaged 32 participants from 22 countries. Thirteen sessions began with speakers, followed by question-and-answer sessions with participants Read More >

Chinese-brokered Iran-KSA Détente, “A Game-Changer or a Mirage?”

CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: LTC Kashif Ehtisham, PAK Army (CSAG/CCJ5) and LTC René Berendsen, NLD Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 12 September 2023 Subject: Chinese-brokered Iran-KSA Détente, “A Game-Changer or a Mirage?” Purpose: To present CSAG’s analysis of the recent rapprochement between Iran and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) brokered by China. Read the complete paper here.   Read More >

2023 Royal Jordanian National Defense College Strategic Leadership Seminar

Desks with people sitting down.

From 21–30 August 2023, the NESA Center conducted the “Perspectives on Strategic Leadership Seminar” with students and faculty of the Royal Jordanian National Defense College (RJNDC) in Amman, Jordan. Seminar content and instruction was led by NESA Center Associate Dean Charles Marks and Professor Richard Wiersema. Training services on alumni resources and induction into the Read More >

NEOM City: Integrated Campaigning and Competition with China

J5 ACADEMIC PAPERS Authors: Maj, Daniel Hall, USMC, USA; MAJ, Jonathan Lovelace, USA, USA; Maj, Brett McCormick, USMC, USA; and Maj, Michael Redding, USAF, USA 7 August 2023   Abstract: NEOM City is a planned futuristic metroplex that serves as a $500 billion cornerstone of the Vision 2030 strategic framework that reduces Saudi Arabia’s dependence Read More >

The Quran Desecration and its Implications – Perspectives of Partners

CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: LTC Kashif Ehtisham, PAK Army (CSAG/CCJ5), MAJ Ibrahim Elveren, TUR Army (CSAG/CCJ5), and COL Mohammed Sayed, EGY Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 2 August 2023 Subject: The Quran Desecration and its Implications – Perspectives of Partners Purpose: This paper aims to present the CSAG’s analysis regarding the current incidents of Quran burning, why it Read More >

The Hardest ‘Soft’ Approach on the Yemeni Crisis: An Opportunity to Retake the Initiative in the Middle East

CSAG STRATEGY PAPER By: MAJ Mihai-Florin GIRBOAN, ROU Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 29 June 2023   Overview: Armed conflicts, across human history, brought unquantifiable loss of fortune, lives, and cultural diversity, effectively stalling, nullifying, or even reversing civilization progress, in countless occasions.  This paper aims to clear the “fog of war” that is covering Yemen and the Read More >

Capt. America vs Capt. Agon (The Billion-Dollar Bargaining Chip for the Syrian Republic of Captagon)

CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: MAJ Ibrahim Elveren, Turkish Army (CSAG/CCJ5) and Lt Col Richard Pecinka, Czech AF (CSAG/CCJ5) 2 June 2023 Subject: Capt. America vs Capt. Agon (The Billion-Dollar Bargaining Chip for the Syrian Republic of Captagon) Purpose: This paper aims to present the CSAG’s analysis regarding how the Captagon drug industry in Syria affects Read More >